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Kidney Cancer Support in the New York Metro Area

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According to the National Cancer Institute, in the year 2012, there will have been approximately 64,770 new cases of kidney cancer. It is also estimated that by the end of the year, 13,570 people will have died from kidney cancer. The vast majority of kidney cancers begin in the tubules, the very small tubes in the kidneys.

Known as renal cell carcinoma, the cancer begins when the cells in the linings of the tubes begin to grow out of control. The function of the kidneys is to help remove waste products from the body, create urine, and clean the blood. The two kidneys are each about the size of a fist and are shaped like beans. Located in the lower part of the stomach, one is located on each size of the spine.

Understanding the important functions of the kidneys shows how serious any complications can prove to be. As with most other types of cancers, doctors do not know exactly what causes kidney cancer. With this said, there are certain factors which have been shown to possibly increase a person's likelihood of developing kidney cancer. For example, most people who suffer from this type of cancer are over the age of forty.

Studies have shown that those who smoke cigarettes are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer and men are twice as likely to suffer from kidney cancer as compared to women. If a person has a family history of kidney cancer or suffers from a genetic disease, this could also affect whether or not they will suffer from kidney cancer.

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How do you know if you have kidney cancer?

Risk of developing kidney cancer

If you believe you may be at risk of developing kidney cancer, there are some warning flags which you can be on the lookout for. As the cancerous cells continue to grow, the tumor will begin to grow larger and lead to certain symptoms. Some suffering from kidney cancer will have blood in their urine or will actually feel a lump on their stomach. Other will suffer from a decrease in their appetite or will lose weight for no apparent reason.

determine whether or not you are suffering from kidney cancer

Other red flags which could point to kidney cancer include extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, a fever, a pain in the abdomen, and coughing up blood. If you or a loved one has been suffering from any of these symptoms, you need to seek medical attention as quickly as possible so that they can determine whether or not you are suffering from kidney cancer.

How are doctors able to test for and diagnose suspected cases of kidney cancer? The sooner the cancer is able to be diagnosed, the sooner treatment can being. This is why it is so crucial that doctors take the necessary care in diagnosing cancer. Doctors should perform a physical exam and look into the family medical history of the patient in order to get a good understanding of their situation. There are also many different tests the doctor can do to discover the presence of cancer. A urine or blood test could determine how well the kidneys are functioning. An ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan could look at the kidneys in detail in order to determine if there are any tumors or fluids building up.

Treating Kidney Cancer

Forms of Treatment Available

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with kidney cancer, you will probably want to know the different forms of treatment that are available to you. Treatment will depend on the how far developed the cancer is and which stage it has reached. Although radiation and medication may be an option, surgery is usually the first line of defense. A person is able to function with only one kidney or just part of one kidney. If, however, the kidney is not able to clean the blood properly, a machine may have to be installed to clean the blood or the victim may need a kidney transplant.

no room for medical malpractice

As said before, acting quickly gives the cancer patient the best possible chance of recovering. For this reason, there is no room for medical malpractice. If you believe that your doctor acted negligently in your case and did not diagnose your cancer properly, something needs to be done to hold them accountable for their actions.

Our team at the Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein, PC is 100% dedicated to protecting those who have been injured by medical malpractice in New York We understand how serious these cases are and are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that they get the maximum amount of compensation for what they have been through.